On Wednesday, Senator Jinggoy Estrada claimed that Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s live-in partner, who is said to be a government official from Pangasinan, is managing illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities in Bamban. Guo denied this claim.
During a Senate Committee hearing on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, Estrada said he had received reliable information that Guo is romantically involved with a mayor from a Northern province who is running the POGO operations in Bamban.
“Wala po. Marami na silang nali-link sa ’kin simula po na buksan ang isyu. Sobrang dami nilang nili-link sa’kin pero wala po akong partner,” Guo said.
Guo suggested she knew which mayor Estrada was talking about but did not want to name anyone. She asked the senator to name the official and jokingly asked if the person linked to her was attractive.
“Kaya ko bini-bring out ito because the reports that I received is that your partner, ‘yung nali-link sayong mayor ng Pangasinan is the one managing and operating your POGO business. Wala akong pakialam sa relasyon ninyo,” the senator said.
Guo kept denying the claim, saying she does not run any POGO business.
The POGO hub mentioned is the 10-hectare compound of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, located in the Baofu compound behind the Bamban municipal hall. In March, this place was raided for illegal activities, including crypto and love scams.
Investigations showed documents linking Guo to the POGO business, which she also denied.
Guo said the POGO hub in Bamban was managed by Chinese nationals.
Senator Raffy Tulfo also told Guo that she is being linked to an official from an executive department.
“Your honor, hindi ko po alam. Ngayon ko lang narinig,” she answered.